Public Stigma Related to People With Mental Health Conditions Among Japanese Company Employees

BACKGROUND: The public stigma related to mental illness is the general public’s negative misconceptions about people with mental health conditions (PMHCs). The public stigma of mental illness is detrimental to PMHC as it leads to loss of opportunities and unemployment. The aim of the study was to clarify the status of public stigma related to PMHC, focusing on knowledge about mental illness and social distance concerning PMHC. METHODS: A survey was conducted among 970 Japanese office workers aged 20 to 60 years. Accurate knowledge of mental illness was assessed using the Mental Illness and Disorder Understanding Scale (MIDUS). The Attitudinal Social Distance (ASD) was used to determine social distance in relation to PMHC. The demographic characteristics of the participants evaluated were sex, age group measured in years, employment position, employment status, and attendance at mental illness stigma training. RESULTS: Regular employees (P = 0.03) and those having prior contact experience (P = 0.01) had more accurate knowledge. Participants between 50 to 59 years old (M = 15.87, standard deviation (SD) = 3.35) had greater social distance than those under 30 years old (M = 14.78, SD = 3.97, P < 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis found that employment status (partial r = -0.07, P < 0.05) and prior contact experience (partial r = -0.15, P < 0.01) significantly affected the MIDUS score, whereas no variable had a significant effect on the ASD score. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate knowledge of mental illness was significantly higher among regular employees and those with contact experience. Social distance was significantly lower among those under the age of 30 years.